BACKPACKS
No piece of gear gets researched, debated, argued over and compulsively shopped for like the humble backpack.
Here are the questions I hear most:
What size do I need?
What brand should I buy?
Do I need a waterproof pack?
How much should I spend?
How do I wear a pack all day?
Oddly, they all have the same answer. Let's dig in.
Size has two parts
One is the fit: the frame or torso size that matches your body. The other is the volume: how much it holds, in liters.
Get professionally measured for fit. Please take the time. It's the difference between a pack you forget you're wearing and an 800 km torture device. You and your walking partner might both carry 40-liter packs, but one needs a large frame and the other a small.
Volume depends on how far you're walking and how much you're carrying. Sounds insultingly simple, but a lot of new pilgrims buy a 70-liter pack, fill it to the top because the room is there, and then wonder why it's so heavy.
Buy your pack last. Gather everything else first: clothes, rain gear, toiletries, sleep gear. Pile it up, or better yet, take it all to a good outdoor shop and let them help you find the right size.
Most people find their Camino kit fits in a 30- to 40-liter pack. If you do other trips that need a bigger pack, buy what fits your life.
Picking a brand
Once you know your fit and volume, you'll face hundreds of choices. Who makes the best pack? The one that fits you. A pack can look great and have shoulder straps that are all wrong for your body. Women often do need women-specific packs. That's not just marketing.
Try on lots of packs, loaded with the weight of your Camino gear, and walk around the store for a while. If the store won't let you, go to a real outfitter.
Play with the details too. Some pilgrims love hip-belt pockets, some don't. Some like a top lid, some like a pack that unzips all the way. Picking your Camino pack is personal. It should take a day or more.
Waterproof packs: nice, not necessary
Ultralight companies make some amazing waterproof packs, but they're expensive and you probably don't need one for the Camino. Most packs are somewhat water-resistant, and most come with a rain cover. If you're worried, use the old backpacker's trick: line your pack with a trash compactor bag. It works and saves you hundreds over a Dyneema pack.
How much to spend
Whatever the pack that fits you costs. On the Camino you'll see people happily carrying $30 packs and $500 packs. More money doesn't mean more comfort. Get the pack that fits your body and your gear.
Wearing it all day
If you followed the advice above, you're most of the way there. Your outfitter should show you how to wear your pack. If not, here are the basics:
Carry the weight on your hips. Not your waist, your hips. Cinch the hip belt over your hip bones. That puts the weight on bone and out of the way of your leg muscles.
Keep the shoulder straps loose. They should nearly float. You should be able to slide two stacked fingers under each strap easily.
Use the chest strap to keep the shoulder straps from sliding out. If your hands or arms tingle or go numb, snug it up. A properly fitted pack shouldn't do that in the first place.
Notice a trend?
Good, that's on purpose. Choosing a pack is personal, and the right one always comes down to what fits you. Buy it last, buy it smart, buy it once.
